So King Arthur lay wounded to the death, grieving, not that his end was come, but for the desolation of his kingdom and the loss of his good knights. And looking upon the body of Sir Lucan, he sighed and said:
“Alas! true knight, dead for my sake! If I lived, I should ever grieve for thy death, but now mine own end draws nigh.”
Then turning to Sir Bedivere, who stood sorrowing beside him, he said: “Leave weeping now, for the time is short and much to do. Hereafter shalt thou weep if thou wilt. But take now my sword Excalibur, hasten to the water side and fling it into the deep. Then watch what happens and bring me word thereof.”
“My Lord,” said Sir Bedivere, “your command shall be obeyed”; and taking the sword, he departed. But as he went on his way he looked on the sword, how wondrously it was formed, and the hilt all studded with precious stones; and, as he looked, he called to mind the marvel by which it had come into the King’s keeping. For on a certain day, as Arthur walked on the shore of a great lake, there had appeared above the surface of the water a hand brandishing a sword. On the instant, the King had leaped into a boat, and, rowing into the lake, had got the sword and brought it back to land. Then he had seen how, on one side the blade, was written, “Keep me,” but on the other, “Throw me away,” and sore perplexed, he had shown it to Merlin, the great wizard, who said: “Keep it now. The time for casting away has not yet come.”
Thinking on this, it seemed to Bedivere that no good, but harm, must come of obeying the King’s word; so hiding the sword under a tree, he hastened back to the little chapel.
Then said the King: “What saw’st thou?”
“Sir,” answered Bedivere, “I saw naught but the waves, heard naught but the wind.”
“That is untrue,” said King Arthur; “[I charge thee], as thou art true knight, go again and spare not to throw away the sword.”
Sir Bedivere departed a second time and his mind was to obey his lord; but when he took the sword in his hand, he thought:
“Sin it is and shameful, to throw away so glorious a sword.” Then hiding it again, he hastened back to the King.